West Seattle Blog…

Followup: Warren Lawless’s memorial set for next Saturday

Memorial plans are now set for longtime West Seattle community advocate and entrepreneur E. Warren Lawless, who died last Monday at 95. When we reported on Mr. Lawless’s passing, we promised an update when the memorial details were announced; we have now received them from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which honored him just last year for a half-century of service. The memorial is planned for 2-5 pm next Saturday (January 25th) at the West Seattle Golf Course clubhouse (4470 35th SW), with a program starting at 3 pm. Mr. Lawless’s family invites everyone “to bring their memories and share with all.” You can read more about Mr. Lawless’s storied life, in this remembrance published by the Western University of Health Sciences, for which he served as a board member for more than 30 years. (WSB photo from last month’s Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast)

West Seattle Soccer Club’s Chris Twombley honored with national coaching award

(US Youth Soccer photo of Chris Twombley, via Instagram)
For the second time in three years, West Seattle Soccer Club is celebrating a National Coach of the Year award from US Youth Soccer. This time, WSSC board member Tim McMonigle tells WSB, it’s for National Girls Recreation Coach of the Year, just announced Friday night at a gala attended by more than 1,000 people: “Chris Twombley has been coaching in the West Seattle Soccer Club for 12+ years and is a great representative for our youth. He made his way up the award hierarchy, winning the award for our Association, District, State, Region, and now at the National level back at an awards ceremony in Philadelphia. We are very proud of him.” Twombley’s award-winning style was described in the official announcement:

Any player looking to get in the game can find a welcoming home on Chris Twombley’s team at West Seattle Soccer Club. Twombley communicates well with his players and provides a positive energy. He uses soccer to teach lessons and build character, and acts as a role model for his players to follow. Off the field, Chris is always offering to help and volunteer in any way the club may need.

In 2011, WSSC’s Jean Robinson won the same award for boys-team coaching, and McMonigle observes, “Both of these very visible national awards have put West Seattle and the West Seattle Soccer Club on the national soccer map.” WSSC’s spring-season registration opens February 1st.
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Celebration of life January 25th for West Seattleite Sue Scharff

Family and friends will gather one week from tomorrow to celebrate the life of Sue Scharff, gone too soon at just 50, and they want to make sure everyone touched by her knows about the event:

Sue succumbed to ovarian cancer on December 16, 2013, at home, surrounded by family and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother Audrey Scharff and sister Beth Scharff. She is survived by her father Sam Scharff; son Jeremy Kim; granddaughter Miranda; ex-husband Kimin Kim; and nieces and nephews. Sue was a masseuse in West Seattle, where she lived for the past 9 years. She enjoyed many activities ranging from riding her motorcycle Thelma, walking along Alki, exploring Schmitz Park and Camp Long, but her heart belonged in Bridgeport, Washington, helping out at Rama Farms.

We will all miss Sue’s wonderful smile, her great life advice, her compassion for those of less advantage, and her big caring, giving heart. She was a wonderful Mother and Friend who could take any situation and find a peaceful solution. She selflessly volunteered her own body in research for ovarian cancer in the hopes of helping someone else.

We will hold a Celebration of Life for Sue at the West Seattle Eagles on Saturday, January 25th, at 1 pm. Come and enjoy time with friends and family as we share stories of the short but beautiful life Sue led.

At the peak of Seahawks spirit, West Seattleite plants 12th Man flag on Western Hemisphere’s highest mountain

How far can the Seahawks‘ 12th Man go? In the person of West Seattleite Gordon Prinster, all the way to the highest point in the Western Hemisphere! You’ve met Gordon here before – he accompanied son Cal Prinster on a cross-country bike ride in 2012, raising $ for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The video shared with us today shows Gordon at the summit of Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, 22,837 feet, on January 4th (Cal wasn’t on this trip; Gordon went up with climbing partner Ed Vandenhaak of Bellingham). “What else would a West Seattle guy plant at the summit but a 12th Man flag?” explained Gordon’s wife Bernadette Brown, sharing the video with WSB. Ironically, Gordon didn’t get to watch last Sunday’s big game, as he was flying home from Argentina at the time and is now back at work at West Seattle High School, she says. NEXT game!

Remembering Warren Lawless, longtime West Seattle entrepreneur and community advocate, 1918-2014

(2012 photo courtesy Karl Sutter)
West Seattle has lost a giant. Warren Lawless died early today at the age of 95, according to his friends and colleagues at the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle.

Less than two years ago, the club honored Mr. Lawless for his 50 years of service. In 2008, Mr. Lawless was recipient of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Community Service Award.

In addition to being a community-service champion and volunteer, his resumé included decades in publishing, including as founder of the West Seattle directory known as the Banana Pages. He was a writer as well, with a column on WestSeattle.com in recent years. He also worked in the osteopathic profession for more than 30 years, including service as executive director of the Washington Osteopathic Medical Association and chairing the board of Western University of Health Sciences.

He continued a very active career in public service until the end; just a month ago, we photographed him as he volunteered during the annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. He was a past president and most recently the club’s Secretary Emeritus.

We will have more later about Mr. Lawless’s life, including memorial information when it’s available.

ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: A memorial service has been announced for Saturday, January 25th, at the West Seattle Golf Course, 2-6 pm.

West Seattle scenes: Seahawks spirit before The Big Game

Hours till game time … and we’ve collected some West Seattle scenes from “Blue Friday.” First – from left, Sue, Ardeen, and Doree are the “Lunch Ladies” of Denny International Middle School, and they rocked the ‘Hawks spirit – personally as well as decoration-wise:

In true Seattle-sustainability spirit, they made decorations out of old pizza boxes during winter break. For as far as the Seahawks get this season, they’ll keep it going – and by the way, they have a wish list, maybe Russell, Marshawn, or Richard visiting the Denny lunchroom? Of course, other West Seattle schools sported spirit too. Josh shared this photo from Westside School (WSB sponsor):

From K-5 STEM, here’s 7-year-old Brooklyn, whose mom Stacey explains, “She put this outfit together on her own……even painted her nails! Takes after her mom. . Go Hawks!”

Also at STEM, Robin Graham from the K-5 STEM PTA shares this link – kids spotted around Boren today who instead of Owls were “Hawks for a Day.” Meantime, you might call these kids “Hawklets”:

Mindi shared the photo from Munchkin Junction. In The Triangle, The Grove-West Seattle Inn added the Seahawks flag to their roster:

And we have to take one more look at the downtown skyline – from the Russell building’s #12 to the CLink color:

Thanks to Craig Young for the photo. And just as we were about to hit the “publish” button, we received this unique alternative view of the building:

Those are twins Eudora and Guthrie Itano Parson, age 7, whose granddad Steve shared the photo and noted, “This is how we ‘Do’ in Seattle: Our kids learn to live in the rain, they read ‘Books’ and cheer for the Seahawks.” Kickoff is 1:30 pm Saturday.

Remembering Lucille Brisky Dodd, 1930-2013

The family of the late Lucille Brisky Dodd is sharing this remembrance:

Lucille Brisky Dodd, 82, passed away on November 21, 2013, while recovering from hip surgery.

Lucille was born in Mount Vernon, WA on December 13, 1930, the youngest child (“Babe”) of John and Ella Lowman Brisky, and the sister of Maryl, Charlotte, and Billy. Beloved mother of Steve Dodd of Downers Grove, IL, John Dodd, Tom Dodd, Lynnea (Kirk) Manahan, and Donna Oslin, all of Seattle. Grandmother to Christy, Dani, Morgan, Emily, Cole, Clara, Tony, and Heather. Lucille was an independent and unique woman and will be greatly missed.

Special thanks to Admiral Heights Merrill Gardens and to the medical staff at Highline Hospital for their exceptional care and kindness. Remembrances may be made to the Humane Society or an animal charity of your choice.

As per her wishes, there will be no public service.

(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Memorable 2013 for West Seattleite chosen ‘Rookie Umpire of the Year’

Tomorrow morning, among those who have told us they plan to take the (polar) plunge into Puget Sound, you’ll find Kayleen Dunson – the West Seattleite who is Umpire in Chief for the Seattle Metro Area Softball Umpires Association. She tells WSB her first year in that role has been great “We trained more umpires than ever before … sent 20 umpires to work National and/or State tournaments (and one umpire who got to work the World Cup of Softball), and made everything about umpiring more FUN!” They got regional/national media attention, too. But she’s particularly proud of Shani Neamen, a recruit who won the “Rookie Umpire of the Year” award.

Kayleen shares the story:

When Shani Neamen read about the need for Softball Umpires on the West Seattle Blog in January, she decided to give it a try. She joined the Seattle Metro Softball Umpires Association, went through the top-notch training program, and became a certified softball umpire. She had a blast, and did a great job – and in October she was chosen as the Seattle-Tacoma region’s “Rookie Umpire of the Year.”

Click to read the rest of Memorable 2013 for West Seattleite chosen ‘Rookie Umpire of the Year’…

Remembering West Seattle native Joy J. McLean Newman

The family of the late Joy J. McLean Newman shares this remembrance:

Joy J. McLean Newman – wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend, West Seattle native – left us on December 18, 2013.

Joy started her working career as a mail messenger at Boeing, where she met the love of her life, Harry. Not long after their marriage, they moved to Diablo, where Harry worked as an operator for City Light. Upon their return to the greater Seattle area, Joy worked as a “taco bender” for Taco Time, a real estate agent, for the Postal Service, and as a COLA surveyor. She was a longtime Teamster, retiring from Laidlaw bus company as a driver for special-needs children. Joy loved the outdoors and bird watching.

Joy is survived by her husband of 58 years, Harry; children Carolyn (Kate), Alec (Margot), and Annette (Bill); sister Sylvia, brother Stuart, grandsons Maclean and Dan, granddaughters Julia and Lilli, step-granddaughters Sarah, Rachel, and Emily; nephews Nathan, Martin, and Charles. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of her favorite charities – CARE, Mercy Corps, or a charity of your choice.

Joy’s last message was one we could all use in our lives: Forgiveness.

(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Video: West Seattle woman and friends deliver thanks to US Postal Service workers

It’s usually the U.S. Postal Service workers who do the delivering – but today, the tables were turned as Liz Latham delivered pizza and a musical mini-flash mob singing words of gratitude to workers at the West Seattle Junction Post Office:

She shared word of her plan this morning; at noontime, we went to the Post Office to see what happened. And there was Liz – pizzas, singers, and all!

She wanted to credit fellow West Seattleite and former Mayor Greg Nickels for inspiration, after he posted a public “thank you” to postal workers via Facebook, for their work “delivering those last, last-minute gifts right through Christmas Eve.” (He told Liz he’d pitch in to help cover the pizza cost, too.) And there’s no question they’ve been busy; USPS spokesperson is quoted in this national story as saying that volume was up 19 percent this holiday season over last year.

WSHS alum Sam Hellinger chosen State Player of the Year

(Photo by Greg Slader)
Just sent to us to share with you – another big honor for a local sports standout, whose proud relative writes:

Earlier this month, Sam Hellinger of West Seattle became the first player from West Seattle High School to ever be awarded the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association’s State Player of the Year.

Hellinger, who helped West Seattle get to the 3A State championship game for the first time in its history and who was drafted in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners in the 2013 June Amateur Draft, was earlier named 3A Player of the Year, Metro League MVP, and was the first West Seattle player ever named to the Seattle Times All-Area Team.

Sam currently attends and plays for the College of San Mateo in the Bay Area (California).

Congratulations to Sam!

Memorial planned December 30 for Richard Joseph Kord, 1926-2013

A funeral Mass is planned one week from today – next Monday, December 30th – at Holy Rosary for Richard Joseph Kord, whose family shares this remembrance:

Richard “Dick” Kord passed away Saturday, December 14, 2013, at the age of 87. Born in Tacoma, he was 6 when his family settled in West Seattle permanently. Dick attended Holy Rosary and O’Dea High School, met his wife “Dottie” of 64 years, and enrolled in summer school to graduate early so he could sign up for service in the US Military Transport in the Pacific during the war, alongside his lifelong friend “Mick.” He then graduated from Seattle University while working at Sears part-time. This led to his 42-year beloved and dedicated career with Sears, where he established cherished friendships as well. Retirement allowed him more time to spend with his wife, family, friends, working on his home and pursuing his love for boating.

Click to read the rest of Memorial planned December 30 for Richard Joseph Kord, 1926-2013…

Congratulations, West Seattle Eagle Scout Dylan Moorleghen

The historian for West Seattle’s Troop 282, Reece Schulz, has shared another Eagle Scout announcement – this time about Dylan Moorleghen:

On June 5, 2007, Dylan Moorleghen joined the life of Scouting, and started on the road to earning his Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank in Scouting. On October 24, 2013, Dylan finally reached his goal of earning Eagle, and has given to the community in many ways.

Throughout Scouting, Dylan has hosted five service projects and has contributed more than 85 service hours.

Dylan has hiked 108 miles, which is a phenomenal feat in Scouting that not many have accomplished. On June 21, 2013, Dylan hosted his Eagle Scout service project. The project they performed was building a bridge over a drainage ditch at Camp Long that floods in the summer. He also served as a camp staff member for Camp Parsons.

Today, Dylan is a senior at Seattle Prep and is on the President’s List, the captain of Prep’s lacrosse team, president of the National Honor Society, and has earned the National Service Award. Over the years, Dylan has contributed a lot to his community, and looks forward to helping out even more with our city.

Video: Bus-stickup-stopper tells his story on national TV

The West Seattle man who overpowered an armed robber on board a RapidRide bus last month went on national TV today to tell his story. 32-year-old Casey Borgen told interviewers on NBC’s Today that – as it seemed to many viewing the surveillance video seen around the world – it was “pure instinct.” But no, he’s not trained in martial arts, as some speculated. See the interview above; here’s the story on Today’s website. If you haven’t seen the bus-camera video yet, our story from early Thursday included the KING 5 version; we have since obtained the raw video and have uploaded two clips, including one that shows something not shown in the other coverage we’ve seen, but some had asked about – the robber just before he gets up to start demanding passengers’ smartphones. Both of the following links go to the clips we have uploaded to YouTube:

*Robber shown seated, then standing to hold up first victim (some audio)
*Silent version of now-famous sequence (silent)

The man charged in those robberies and another one on a different bus on Beacon Hill earlier in the month, 19-year-old Trevonnte Brown, remains jailed in lieu of $350,000 bail and is due back in court later this month.

Update: 91-year-old Bob no longer missing, found safe

8:17 AM UPDATE: Patricia just sent word that Bob G. has been found safe in Des Moines, and thanks everyone for being on the lookout. Original report from last night, below:

Click to read the rest of Update: 91-year-old Bob no longer missing, found safe…

West Seattle holiday giving: Donation dropoffs wrap up @ WestSide Baby

WestSide Baby is thanking everyone who’s donated this holiday season, now that pre-Christmas dropoff time is over. And it’s thanking volunteers, too! Here’s an update from WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland:

Christmas came early to WestSide Baby when the Westside School third grade class delivered handmade blankets Monday! (photo above) These are some of the last item donations of the year as we wind up our 2013 collections tomorrow.

To celebrate a year with record distributions, we honored our regular volunteers today at the newly opened Bridge Tavern.

Just this year, this group of amazing people as well as groups and one time drop ins have given more than 9500 hours of time, with 570 hours from just one amazing woman named Lissa! They keep us rolling and we are so appreciative. Join this team in 2014!

Our last distribution to families in need will go out on Thursday through our 80 social-service-agency partners marking a record number of children served this year as 400 orders head out the door this week.

We want to make sure people know our donation center and drop sites will be closed to item dropoffs starting tomorrow. We are amazed at the community generosity and we will definitely continue to need your gently used and new items as we start filling orders again on January 2. From now until that date, we ask donors to hold onto their amazing used items as we start the counting of every sock, diaper and pacifier in our operations center. Exceptions for those who held a drive and prearranged a delivery with us, like the third-grade class from Our Lady of Guadalupe that is coming on Thursday! (After they have already delivered 4 car loads of amazing donations.)

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate our community’s patience as well as your dedication to helping us serve local children. We will very gladly accept items you have after January 2, as we know the need for essentials will continue long past the holiday season.

In the meantime, cash gifts for your 2013 tax deductions are very much appreciated through our website or by mail to 10032 15th Ave SW, Seattle Wa 98146, and we have tables and tickets available for our 13th Annual Benefit Tea on February 9th! Click the graphic:

If you have items that can’t wait, check out the other giving opportunities in the WSB Holiday Guide.

‘Thanks, West Seattle, for your continued sense of community’

While this is the type of note that most often lands in the WSB Forums as a “Rave,” it turned up in the WSB e-mailbox instead, and we’re up for some heartening news – so, here’s what Molly reported:

We just wanted to pass along a little holiday cheer that we just encountered in West Seattle (Sunday). We accidentally left a package near Talarico’s, where a good Samaritan found it and drove it to our house in the event that we’d accidentally left behind a holiday present. While the package was empty (the contents were at N.W. Art and Frame), it had contained a print of a painting we’d seen on our honeymoon this summer. My husband, who is a little cynical about the holiday season, was struck by this woman’s kindness and thoughtfulness in driving the package all the way to our house, had it contained a gift. Thanks, West Seattle, for your continued sense of community that truly embodies the spirit of the holidays!

Injured bicycle rider’s daughter looking for Good Samaritan

In Friday morning traffic coverage, we mentioned a bicycle incident at Admiral Way/City View on the hill north of the bridge. It cleared relatively quickly, and turned out to have been a fall rather than a collision, so we didn’t follow up. But then we received this note from Elisabeth, saying the rider is her mom and she’s looking for the person who helped her:

(Friday) morning around 6:50/7:00 am, a good Samaritan helped my mom after she crashed her bike on Admiral. My mom was on the west side of street headed towards WS bridge. The good Samaritan pulled over and I believe she called the medics. I was actually driving to work right around the same time and got there shortly after the medics had my mom on the stretcher.

First, we would really like to thank the good Samaritan because my mom hit her head pretty hard and based on her injuries hit the pavement (or her bike) hard, so we think the fast response was critical, and second, we are wondering if the good Samaritan saw the accident. We are trying to piece together what happened as my mom does not remember any of it. She took quite a spill and has some internal injuries and some fractured bones, but we think she is going to be ok.

Was it you, or someone you know? You can comment, or e-mail us.

West Seattle scene: Finished floragraph for Joshua Waleryszak

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
That’s the floragraph of Joshua Waleryszak, whose mom Judy Waleryszak finished it tonight at Forest Lawn in West Seattle, 20 years after losing her 12-year-old son to complications of developmental disabilities. It’s his portrait in plant material, ready for the 2014 edition of the Rose Parade float honoring organ donors – as explained in our preview, Joshua’s death meant life-saving donations for three people.

(Photo courtesy Alyson Hallberg)
Joshua’s story is told here, on the website about this year’s Donate Life float, which will include the floragraph just completed by his mom.

Seattle Fire Department celebrates first of two new medic units with West Seattle donors’ relatives

With Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean in our photo are Suzanne Krahmer and Donald Krahmer, Jr., relatives of an Alki couple whose posthumous $550,000 gift made possible the Medic One unit behind them and will provide a second one soon. We first reported a year and a half ago about the money bequeathed by Mildred Krahmer Sanders (1921-2011) and William C. Sanders (1922-2002), longtime Boeing workers who spent their retirement years in West Seattle. Today, the Krahmers came to SFD headquarters in Pioneer Square for a special celebration – you’ll hear from them and from Chief Dean in our video (and you’ll also see the SFD crowd that was on hand to show their appreciation):

They took a look inside the unit that now carries a plaque with Mr. and Mrs. Sanders’ names, a replica of which was given to them today:

That’s SFD Lt. Sue Stangl inside with them. SFD says its medics responded to almost 22,000 calls last year alone. (You can see how busy they are – check out the live 911 log; any unit number with an M is a medic unit; the one based in West Seattle is M32.)

In addition to giving to SFD, the Sanders left $600,000 that will fund a lab for advanced eye research.

Floragraph in Rose Parade to honor West Seattle boy

Tomorrow at Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle, you are invited to a special event in honor of organ donors, including a boy who died 20 years ago. Joshua Thomas Waleryszak was just 12 when he lost his life to complications related to developmental disabilities. His parents donated his kidneys and liver. Joshua’s father Tom died this past October and was also an organ donor.

At the event tomorrow, Joshua’s mom Judy Waleryszak of West Seattle will finish a floragraph in his honor that will be part of the Donate Life float “Light Up the World“ in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day 2014, and you’re invited to come show your support. Never heard of a floragraph? It’s explained as “a portrait representation of an individual, made of seeds and other organic material.” Joshua is one of 81 donors to be honored by the float, which will feature riders and marchers including 30 organ/tissue transplant recipients and 12 living organ donors.

The event tomorrow (Thursday, December 12th) will be at Forest Lawn’s funeral home at 30th/Sylvan, 5-7 pm. It will be followed by another event with an open public invitation, Forest Lawn’s annual holiday remembrance ceremony, a chance to honor those who died in the past year, featuring grief expert Dr. Darcie Sims.

Memorial on Wednesday for Fern Baer Freeman, 1923-2013

A memorial service is planned tomorrow (Wednesday, December 11th), for Fern Baer Freeman, who lived for many years at the Island View Apartments in West Seattle and served as their manager for much of that time, according to her daughter Lois, who shares this remembrance:

Fern Baer Freeman was born December 23, 1923 in the Aberdeen, Idaho, area to Edward and Katherina (Friesen) Baer, who were part of that German Mennonite farming community.

Fern went first to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA later) and in 1946 completed her RN at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, Kansas. After various nursing work assignments (one in Berkeley, California) and more studies, Fern moved to the East Coast to attend the King’s College. She met and married New Yorker (Queens) Robert Franklin Freeman in Wilmington, Delaware on March 4, 1951. Fern com- pleted a BSN degree.

They had six children over the following eight years and had relocated to the Pacific Northwest by the time their second child (John) was born. They lived in Pocatello, Boise, and Mountain Home before leaving Idaho to move to Seattle in 1969. The Seattle area was Fern’s home from 1969-1974 and from 1985 to the present. The family lived in Ephrata, Washington, 1975-1985 when the two younger girls (Ruth and Linda) were in high school. Fern worked for a dentist there and learned to craft teeth.

Fern, Bob, and Ruth moved back to Seattle in the mid-1980s. Fern consecutively became the manager of two apartment buildings. She remained back-up manager at Island View in West Seattle from age 75-85. Fern and Bob were both members of West Side Presbyterian Church in West Seattle.

She is pre-deceased by a daughter, Ruth Laurel Freeman, in 2007, and her husband Robert in 2008. She has five living children [Daniel Freeman of Avon Lake, Ohio (near Cleveland), Lois Easley of Glen Ellyn, Illinois (near Chicago), John Freeman of Bellevue, Washington, Glenn Freeman of Kent, Washington and Linda Freeman of Edmonds, Washington], three children-in-law (Brenda in OH, Dan in IL and Susan in Kent), and nine grandchildren, (Julie, Amy, Sarah, Benjamin, Christopher, Katherine, Alison, Anna, and Joseph).

Mrs. Freeman will be buried this afternoon at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery near Northgate; her memorial service will be at 1 pm Wednesday at West Side Presbyterian (3601 California SW). More details at bartonfuneral.com.

West Seattleite scene: Eddie Vedder’s concert T-shirt

(Friday night photo by Amy Allen)
That photo is from Friday night’s Pearl Jam concert at KeyArena downtown, and it has a bit of a backstory! First, while checking Twitter that night, we noticed some pointing out that lead singer Eddie Vedder was showing off some West Seattle (his longtime neighborhood) pride – Stephanie called it directly to our attention:

We looked around for a photo but couldn’t find one until Alia told us via Facebook about one she had seen via Instagram. We contacted the photographer, a Pearl Jam superfan from Des Moines, Iowa, named Amy Allen, for permission to publish her photo here, and she said yes. By day, in fact, Amy is a professional photographer, though she was at the show as a fan equipped only with an iPhone – the 71st time she has seen Pearl Jam in concert, she told us. She’s on Instagram at @amyallenphoto.

P.S. Thought we recalled seeing the same shirt at CAPERS in The Junction; their FB page confirms it.

Memorial planned December 14th for Bob Youngs, 1930-2013

Family and friends will gather at Holy Family Church one week from tomorrow to remember Bob Youngs. Here’s the remembrance sent to us to share with you:

Robert (Bob) M. Youngs, Sr. passed away suddenly at home on November 21, 2013, at age 83.

He was born in Longview, Washington, on March 23, 1930, the third of six children born to Curtis and Ruth Youngs. While growing up, Bob and his family moved up and down the West Coast, living in Washington, Oregon, and California. While living in Aumsville, Oregon, during his high-school years, he met the love of his life, Rosalie Mack, and they married in 1950.

Shortly after marrying, Bob was drafted into the Army and served in the Korean War. After returning to his family, he attended Oregon State University and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, while also working as a cabinet-maker. Bob and Rose moved to Seattle, where Bob spent the next 34 years at Seattle City Light, retiring as Chief Electrical Engineer. Together, Bob and Rose raised five children and recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. They could often be seen walking hand-in-hand; their love still had the spark of newlyweds.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman, loved to spend time with his family and friends, and was a jack-of-all trades…if it was broken or in need of repair, he found a way to fix it. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, skiing, hiking, gardening, as well as traveling near and far. His family and friends reaped the benefits of his woodworking skills, with built-in cabinetry, desks, staircases, fireplaces, and more. Bob helped guide years of youth serving as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 351. Bob was very involved with church activities and provided strong leadership to the Holy Family Knights of Columbus (PGK, FS). Bob also dedicated many hours to The Mountaineers Snoqualmie Lodge, helping create a wonderful family getaway. In all of his endeavors, Bob benefitted from many lasting friendships that have endured throughout the years.

Bob was a dedicated father, grandfather, and friend to many. He is survived by his wife Rose, their children, Rob (Brenda), Rich (Lisa), Rex, Ross (Suzanne), and Ruth (Dennis Lew), and their grandchildren, Derek Youngs (Brittnee), Ashley Youngs, Kelli Youngs, Tony, Devin, and Cameron Lew, and their great-grandsons, Carter Youngs, Tyler Lew, and Jordan Lew.

A Rosary will be held on Friday, December 13th, at 7:00 p.m. and a Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 14th at 10:00 a.m. with a reception following the service. Both events will be at Holy Family Church, 9622 20th Ave SW, Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to Holy Family School Randy Terlicker Scholarship Fund.

(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Remembering Rusty Harper – Seafair Pirate, West Seattleite, ‘Southern Gentleman’ – 1957-2013

At the center of our photo from this past July is West Seattleite Rusty Harper, photographed as he led his fellow Seafair Pirates ashore at Alki Beach as this year’s “Captain Kidd.” Last weekend, Mr. Harper died at just 56 years old. His wife Bonnie shares this remembrance:

Rusty Harper
October 1957 – December 2013

Rusty Harper, of West Seattle, will be remembered most recently as Captain Kidd of the Seattle Seafair Pirates this year. He loved the camaraderie and being a part of the “historic tapestry of Seattle”. He got the biggest thrill at the start of every Torchlight Parade. Looking straight down 4th Avenue at the throngs of people waiting for the first cannon blast from the Moby Duck was his favorite moment each year. His Pirate friends became his brothers, and brothers help make a place a home. His motto was “Tempus Fugit.”

His friends knew him as a Southern Gentleman. He was born in a small town in Mississippi, but spent most of his youth in Mobile, Alabama. Although he and his wife of 20 years, Bonnie, lived in Seattle since 1995, Rusty retained his beautiful accent. After a career in real estate, Rusty went to culinary school, which brought him to Seattle. He worked in the food manufacturing industry for years, but most recently joined Sage Fly Fishing on Bainbridge Island.

Rusty was on a continuous journey to enrich his mind and soul. His search led him to convert to Catholicism in his early 30’s. He was a passionate reader of literature, history, sci-fi and horror. He wanted to finish War and Peace, but only made it through the difficult part that was written in French – he had so looked forward to reading the rest in English. He loved graphic novels and comics, too. He spent many hours with his nose buried in the Dark Knight series of Batman. He loved art and music. As a baby boomer, of course there was AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, but he developed a profound love of jazz and big band music, particularly Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. Travel was a big part of Rusty’s life. In recent trips to Europe, he spent many happy hours exploring art and culture. Several petite Parisian ladies working in a tiny chocolate shop might remember the shock of seeing a big redhead in a trench coat burst through the doors declaring in French, “I am an American chocolatier – where is the metro?”.

Rusty was the only son of Patricia Harper, who lives in Mobile, and the late Russell Harper. Rusty is remembered by his wife and her big family of sisters, nieces, nephews, and their children who loved their Uncle Rusty. His “hey, ya’ll”, “Roll Tide!”, big grin, and hearty laugh will be profoundly missed. Tempus fugit. Vita brevis.

Mr. Harper’s memorial is this Saturday (December 7th), 2-4 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral (2656 42nd SW).

West Seattle architect George Suyama wins Hall of Fame Award

(Photo courtesy Suyama Peterson Deguchi)
Congratulations to another West Seattleite who recently won a national award: Architect George Suyama, FAIA, honored with the American Institute of Architects magazine Residential Architect‘s Hall of Fame Award, which put him on the cover this fall.

Suyama is a Fauntleroy resident who is principal of Belltown-headquartered Suyama Peterson Deguchi; since he is based downtown, we might have missed news of the award if not for a tip from a WSB reader. The magazine profile (see the online version here, the digitized magazine here) describes him as “known for tranquil houses that blend seamlessly with nature and the land” and details a life story that began with infancy and toddlerhood in the Minidoka internment camp. Suyama opened his architecture practice 42 years ago. In addition to winning myriad awards leading up to being chosen for the Hall of Fame – as detailed in the official announcement – he also has served the community in ways including membership on the Seattle Arts Commission.

West Seattle holidays: WSHS, Sealth bands in Friday’s parade downtown

1:04 PM TUESDAY: Three days until the My Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown – and we have word of at least three local participants to watch for: The Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School marching bands, plus the Salty’s nutcrackers (which are teamed with the WSHS band, according to an announcement from Salty’s [WSB sponsor]). We’re hoping to get the official parade lineup so we can check for other local participants – in the meantime, please let us know if you’re part of it, or know someone from West Seattle who is. The parade starts at 9 am Friday, and runs along the route shown above, from 7th and Pine down to 5th, south on 5th to University, then turning back north on 4th until it ends at, of course, Macy’s.

10:47 AM WEDNESDAY: Thanks to Trisha for this update: “Just wanted to add that Evergreen City Ballet will also be participating with Salty’s and the bands. The ballerinas will be wearing Nutcracker costumes and marching in the parade. My daughter is a sophomore at CSIHS and will be one of them!” (Added) Also from comments, at least one West Seattle girl, a WSHS student, will be marching with the La Señoritas Sabers drill team.